Resolving the Issue and Going to Class
Third Aunt?
Qin Shi frowned slightly. The squad leader’s sister?
What a twist of fate. Despite having living relatives, they still managed to make Lu Zetian lose his judgment and take the twins home directly.
In truth, even if they hadn’t adopted them, they could have helped find someone else to take the children. But no, Lu Zetian had rushed to bring them home, which was quite remarkable.
Thankfully, he had now come to his senses; otherwise, Qin Shi would have been at her wit’s end.
“Do you know her?” Qin Shi whispered to the twins.
An’an replied, “We’ve only seen her once.”
Pingping nodded in agreement. “She came by some time ago.”
Raising an eyebrow, Qin Shi asked, “Do you know why she came?”
The twins shook their heads in unison.
Qin Shi glanced toward the person lingering at the gate, who was staring intently inside. With a faint smile, she walked over, stood inside the gate, and asked, “Hello, who are you looking for?”
Wang Xiuxiu eyed Qin Shi strangely. “And who are you?”
Qin Shi kept her smile but inwardly scoffed. This person doesn’t introduce herself or state her purpose but keeps asking who I am. Clearly, she doesn’t have good intentions.
“Do you have business here? If not, please leave. I’m busy,” Qin Shi said impatiently, not interested in engaging further.
She didn’t know this woman, and since she hadn’t explained her visit, Qin Shi saw no reason to be polite. It wasn’t like anyone could fault her for it.
As she turned to leave, Wang Xiuxiu panicked and shouted, “Hey, wait! Don’t go! Open the gate for me! I’m Pingping and An’an’s third aunt!”
Qin Shi stopped in her tracks, turned back, and looked at Wang Xiuxiu sharply. “My husband, Lu Zetian, has only one sister. Where is this third aunt coming from?”
Wang Xiuxiu avoided Qin Shi’s gaze, looking instead toward the twins near the vegetable garden. She called out, “Pingping, An’an, come here! It’s your third aunt! I’ve brought you some fruit!”
The twins, although aware of her identity, didn’t like her. She was unpleasant to look at and sloppily dressed, making her unappealing to them.
Suddenly, An’an grabbed Pingping’s hand, pulling him back inside while muttering, “Dad said we don’t need to bother with her.”
Turning to Pingping, she confirmed, “Right?”
Pingping nodded, and An’an immediately relaxed. They dragged chairs over, climbed up to the windowsill, and peeked out cautiously.
Seeing the twins run off, Qin Shi chuckled inwardly. Clever kids.
“The children don’t know you. Please leave,” Qin Shi began ushering her away.
Wang Xiuxiu, holding a burlap sack, glared at Qin Shi. “You must be the one Lu married later! How long has it been? You’ve already turned the kids against me, teaching them not to recognize their relatives! You—”
“What are you yelling about?” Aunt Zhao from next door suddenly appeared, frowning. “Who’s making all this noise? You’ve woken up the kids in my house! Honestly!”
Interrupted, Wang Xiuxiu glanced at Aunt Zhao on the other side of the low wall but ignored her. She turned back to Qin Shi, shouting, “Open the gate for me! I need to see the children! Who knows if you’ve been mistreating them? I must check on them!”
Before Qin Shi could respond, Aunt Zhao laughed and leaned over the wall. “What right do you have to check on the children? Who are you, anyway? The kids only have a younger aunt, not some so-called third aunt!”
Turning to Qin Shi, Aunt Zhao added, “Little Qin, quickly chase this crazy woman away. Don’t let her scare the kids.”
Qin Shi nodded. “I was just about to call for you. Could you please inform the guards? There’s a random person shouting nonsense at my door. Let them take her for questioning to figure out her purpose here.”
Wang Xiuxiu paled, clearly startled. She knew the military compound was strict and had only gained entry by mentioning Lu Zetian and the twins. With Qin Shi refusing to acknowledge her, the guards would undoubtedly throw her out. This would delay matters, and she’d surely face a beating when she returned.
Thinking of how her husband wielded his belt, Wang Xiuxiu shivered. She quickly muttered, “I am their third aunt,” and left in a hurry.
Seeing her retreat, Aunt Zhao chuckled. “Ah, you’re sharp. Just one scare and she ran off.”
Qin Shi smiled, walked over to the wall, and asked softly, “Aunt Zhao, do you know this person?”
Aunt Zhao’s expression turned disdainful. “Of course. Last time she came, I happened to see her. She is Pingping and An’an’s third aunt. But when Lu adopted the children, it was clearly agreed that their relatives wouldn’t come looking for them. The kids belong to the Lu family now.”
“The military acted as witnesses, and the agreement explicitly stated that Lu Zetian had full custody. Everything was signed and sealed with handprints. It’s legally binding!”
Glancing in the direction Wang Xiuxiu had fled, Aunt Zhao added, “Last time, their biological mother and Wang Youliang’s elder brother came. The brother said the whole family had discussed it and agreed. Who knew this woman would suddenly show up? No idea what she’s after.”
“When Lu gets back tonight, ask him to deal with her properly so she doesn’t come again. The twins don’t know anything about this,” Aunt Zhao advised in a hushed tone.
Qin Shi nodded, thanked Aunt Zhao, and went back inside.
The twins ran to Qin Shi, looking up at her. “Who was that?”
“Is she really the third aunt?”
Qin Shi reached out to pat their heads but remembered she hadn’t washed her hands after handling the soil basket. She put her hand down. “No, she’s mistaken. You only have one aunt. Don’t you remember?”
An’an immediately beamed. “Of course! Our aunt is beautiful and brings us delicious candy!”
Qin Shi smiled, “Exactly. Always be cautious when you’re outside. If you encounter a stranger, no matter what they say, don’t go with them—it could be dangerous.”
The twins nodded in unison. “Got it! Be wary of strangers—they might be traffickers. Grandma told us that.”
“Good,” Qin Shi said with a warm smile. “Come on, let’s go dig some soil.”
“Yay!” The twins cheered, thrilled at the chance to play in the dirt with full approval.
In no time, they forgot all about Wang Xiuxiu and eagerly followed Qin Shi to dig soil. Once outside, Qin Shi carefully surveyed the area to ensure Wang Xiuxiu was no longer nearby before letting the children start.
Qin Shi couldn’t carry much soil at once, and the twins only used two small bottles to “help,” though they were clearly just playing. Even when they ended up covered in dirt, Qin Shi didn’t mind since they were wearing their oldest clothes.
Kids needed the freedom to be messy sometimes.
The twins were usually well-behaved and didn’t get as dirty as other children when playing outside. In fact, they were so particular about cleanliness that even slightly dirty hands made them uncomfortable. Especially Pingping, who had a touch of OCD. If An’an got messy while playing, Pingping would dutifully pull out a handkerchief Qin Shi had made for them and clean her up.
When some boys teased Pingping for using what they called a “girly” handkerchief, he didn’t care. He preferred sitting quietly over running around with them. Meanwhile, if An’an overheard anyone teasing Pingping, she would rally a group of kids to retaliate in their games. If Pingping was a pure white glutinous rice dumpling, An’an was a sesame dumpling—white on the outside but mischievous on the inside.
Qin Shi was initially surprised to notice this dynamic but soon felt relieved and even a little proud. After all, being overly naive wasn’t always a good thing for a girl. As long as An’an didn’t bully others or allow herself to be bullied, it was fine.
That evening, as Lu Zetian returned home, he spotted Wang Xiuxiu loitering at a corner, seemingly waiting for someone.
He frowned, his gaze turning cold.
Wang Xiuxiu saw him and rushed forward to block his path. “Commander Lu!”
Old Zheng, the political commissar walking with him, assumed she was a relative of Lu Zetian and excused himself to leave them alone.
As soon as they were alone, Lu Zetian’s expression turned icy. “I already made myself clear last time.”
Wang Xiuxiu faltered under his imposing demeanour, mumbling as she struggled to find her words.
Last time, while Lu Zetian had been displeased, he hadn’t been this cold. What had changed? Why was he suddenly showing no regard for her? Wang Xiuxiu was puzzled and uneasy.
What she didn’t know was that Lu Zetian had since “awakened.” Before, his approach had been more polite and cautious, but now he saw things clearly and had no patience for her nonsense.
“I…” Wang Xiuxiu started to speak but was abruptly cut off.
“Don’t come here again,” Lu Zetian said flatly. “If you do, I’ll let the military handle it.”
Wang Xiuxiu’s heart sank. She watched him turn to leave and hastily called out, her voice trembling, “Wait, wait! Please, just resolve this matter for me, and I promise I won’t come back!”
Lu Zetian couldn’t help but scoff. “I told you from the start—the children have nothing to do with your family anymore. Don’t even think about taking them back.”
The family that had refused the children in the first place was now begging for them. Lu Zetian gave her a mocking look. “Your child needs money for treatment, so now you’re targeting Pingping and An’an?”
Wang Xiuxiu was startled and gasped, “How do you…”
“Not only do I know, but so does the military,” Lu Zetian interrupted, his tone stern. “Last time, we let it slide out of respect for the squad leader. But if you come again, don’t expect me to be lenient.”
Wang Xiuxiu’s heart raced as she stood there, panicking. She had no choice—her child had been diagnosed with a heart condition, and the medical bills were draining her dry. The looming cost of surgery had driven her to target the twins.
Lowering her eyes, she bit her lip and said through gritted teeth, “I don’t want Pingping and An’an. Just give me the compensation money from our fourth child’s death! Our parents are gone—I have a right to that money!”
Lu Zetian sneered. “That money belongs to the squad leader’s wife. It has nothing to do with you.”
“She’s remarried! Why does she still get to keep it?” Wang Xiuxiu exclaimed, her voice high-pitched and shrill from nervousness.
Lu Zetian frowned. “She only remarried recently.”
“I don’t care!” Wang Xiuxiu cried, her desperation evident. “She said she gave it all to the children, but you still have to give me some!”
Lu Zetian had no patience left for her. Glancing around, he spotted Heihu passing by and called him over.
Heihu jogged over and saluted. “Commander, what’s the matter?”
“Take this woman to the security office,” Lu Zetian ordered. “Call Commander Li and inform him that Wang Xiuxiu is here again. Tell him to handle it seriously.”
Seeing Lu Zetian’s stern demeanour, Heihu immediately responded, “Yes, Commander!”
Wang Xiuxiu turned pale and tried to back away. “You have no right to detain me!”
Heihu glanced at Lu Zetian, who coldly commanded, “Take her away.”
“Yes, sir!” Without hesitation, Heihu grabbed Wang Xiuxiu’s arm and began dragging her off.
“Help! Someone help!” Wang Xiuxiu screamed, but Heihu shot her a fierce glare.
“Go ahead and scream. Call as many people as you like. Let’s see how that works out for you.”
Terrified of being interrogated in public, Wang Xiuxiu fell silent but continued to struggle. However, her efforts were futile against Heihu’s strength. Ignoring her resistance, he marched her straight to the security office.
Confident in Heihu’s ability to handle the situation, Lu Zetian turned and headed home.
The aroma from the kitchen was so strong that he could smell it from around the corner. Thinking about the meal he could have been enjoying earlier, only to be delayed by Wang Xiuxiu, made him even more annoyed with her.
When he got home, Lu Zetian followed the enticing smell straight to the kitchen. Seeing meat on the table, he immediately grabbed a basin to wash up.
“You’re home a bit late today,” Qin Shi remarked as she dished out food from the pot, glancing sideways at him. “Did you run into someone?”
From her question, Lu Zetian realized Wang Xiuxiu must have come to the house earlier. He nodded and replied, “Don’t worry. She won’t be coming back.”
The children were in the next room, so Qin Shi lowered her voice. “What’s her deal? Is she really… the third aunt?”
Lu Zetian poured a bit of hot water into the basin. “The children only have a younger aunt, not a third aunt.”
Qin Shi raised an eyebrow.
“I’ll explain everything tonight. Let’s eat first,” Lu Zetian said.
Qin Shi nodded and called out, “Time to eat!”
As Lu Zetian filled the basin with cool water in the courtyard, he stopped the kids rushing out. “Come wash your hands.”
“Okay!” The children cheerfully ran over, quickly washing their hands before dashing into the kitchen.
Once the kids were done, Lu Zetian washed his own hands, rinsed his face, and dumped the used water before heading inside for dinner.
After the meal, the twins put their bowls on the counter and ran back to their drawing in the next room, hand in hand. Gu Qinghai helped Qin Shi put all the dishes in the sink before leaving.
Lu Zetian grabbed an apron and tied it on. “Qinghai doesn’t seem to sulk anymore?”
Qin Shi chuckled softly. “Oh, he does. But it’s much better than before.”
He was a little tsundere, clearly having accepted her but unwilling to admit it. Whenever he helped with chores, he would act like he was doing it only to thank her for taking care of them, making his awkwardness rather endearing.
Lu Zetian nodded slightly, thinking he should have a good talk with the boy later.
“So, what’s the deal with this third aunt?” Qin Shi leaned against the counter with a cup of chrysanthemum tea, watching Lu Zetian wash the dishes.
“She’s indeed the squad leader’s sister. It’s been four years, and I don’t know why she suddenly showed up again. A while back, she brought a bag of fruit from her family’s farm, claiming she wanted to see the children.”
“I happened to be home that day and saw her through the gate, coaxing the kids and calling herself their third aunt. I sent the kids back inside and talked to her. That’s when she said she wanted the children back. I refused and drove her off.”
Placing the cleaned dishes aside, Lu Zetian continued, “The next day, I reported it to my superiors. Turns out her child was recently hospitalized with a heart condition.”
Qin Shi immediately understood. “So she wanted to take the kids back to claim their subsidies and your squad leader’s compensation?”
Lu Zetian nodded. “Exactly.”
Qin Shi sneered. “She doesn’t look like much, but her plans are quite bold.”
The twins had been handed over to Lu Zetian right after weaning and were entirely raised by Lu Zetian’s mother. Now that they were older and more independent, she suddenly wanted to claim them? Ridiculous.
“Don’t worry. This time it’s been handled thoroughly,” Lu Zetian said with a calm expression. “She’s at the security office now and has likely already been reprimanded. I’ll go check on the situation later.”
Qin Shi nodded. That was the right way to handle it—clean and decisive.
Watching Lu Zetian efficiently wash the dishes, Qin Shi silently marvelled at how much better things were now. His “awakening” was truly miraculous.
Sipping her tea, she suddenly remembered something and tensed. “Heart condition? Does her family have a history of it?”
Lu Zetian shook his head. “It’s inherited from her husband’s side. Don’t worry.”
Only then did Qin Shi relax. That was a relief—it had given her quite a scare.
Having learned everything she wanted to know, Qin Shi left Lu Zetian to finish the dishes and went to the next room.
Watching her close the door behind her, Lu Zetian smiled and shook his head.
When Qin Shi returned to the room, An’an had grown tired of drawing and was now pestering Gu Qinghai to tell her a story. Meanwhile, Pingping sat alone at the table, leaning over and carefully sketching on the back of a used notebook page with a stubby pencil.
Curious, Qin Shi walked over and saw his drawing: a long-haired woman digging soil with two children—one holding a shovel and the other a bucket. It was a simple but recognizable depiction of their daytime activity together.
Though the lines were basic and the proportions a bit off, Qin Shi was pleasantly surprised. The scene was vivid enough for her to tell what he had drawn, and it even carried a sense of atmosphere.
She praised him enthusiastically, “This is amazing! Pingping, you’re so talented!”
Pingping shyly smiled and flipped through the notebook to show her more drawings he had done in the past few days. There were sketches of cats and dogs fighting, rivers and mountains, soldiers standing guard under the sun, and some unidentifiable figures.
This time, Qin Shi was truly astonished. She hadn’t expected Pingping to have such a gift for drawing—his work was quite impressive for his age.
“These are incredible!” Qin Shi said, patting his head. “Do you like drawing?”
Pingping nodded earnestly and ran to his room to fetch another notebook filled with all kinds of sketches.
As she looked through his childlike yet creative drawings, Qin Shi suddenly asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up? A painter?”
Pingping’s eyes lit up, seemingly surprised that she had guessed. He nodded seriously and said, “I love drawing!”
Qin Shi smiled. She didn’t care why, in the original story, Pingping grew up to be a designer instead of a painter. That was just part of the plot. Now that Lu Zetian had “awakened” and broken free from the constraints of the narrative, the children naturally could too.
The plot was one thing, and reality was another—they couldn’t be mixed.
Smiling at Pingping, Qin Shi said, “Your birthday is next month. How about I get you some crayons and a proper sketchbook as a gift?”
Pingping’s eyes widened in surprise. “Really? Can I?”
“Of course.” Qin Shi’s tone was warm and encouraging. If a child had a genuine interest, it was an adult’s responsibility to support it.
What Pingping would do in the future didn’t matter. What mattered was nurturing his current passion.
“Thank you!” Pingping’s eyes sparkled, and his smile deepened, revealing a faint dimple.
Pingping and An’an looked almost identical—both incredibly adorable. If they wore the same clothes and hairstyles, no one would doubt they were twins. The only difference was Pingping’s subtle dimples when he smiled, which An’an didn’t have.
“Thank you for what? What are you talking about?” An’an, like a little cannonball, rushed over, skidding to a stop just in time to avoid crashing into Qin Shi.
“We’re talking about birthday gifts,” Qin Shi explained, looking at her. “I’m planning to give Pingping crayons and a sketchbook. What would you like for your birthday?”
“Ah! A birthday? Gifts!” An’an’s excitement skyrocketed. “I want a pretty dress!”
Qin Shi chuckled softly and was about to agree when An’an quickly changed her mind.
“No, no, I already have new dresses. Can I have a cake? Like the ones on TV?”
Looking at Qin Shi with anticipation, she added, “The kind with cream. Can you make it?”
Qin Shi teased her deliberately, “I can, but that doesn’t count as a gift.”
“Why not…” An’an was momentarily disappointed but quickly smiled again. “Okay, then make me candied sweet potatoes and apples again!”
An’an had a notorious sweet tooth.
Seeing her understanding demeanour, Qin Shi’s heart softened. She stopped teasing and said, “I already planned to make you a cream cake, which is why it doesn’t count as a gift.”
“Since the cake will already be sweet, no candied sweet potatoes. Pick something else.”
An’an’s eyes lit up again, and she cheered excitedly. “Then… I want to watch Dad and his team train!”
Qin Shi was taken aback. She hadn’t expected such a request. “Why do you want to see that?”
An’an stepped back a few paces and waved her arms and legs wildly, mimicking action moves. “Last time, my kite got stuck in a tree, and Uncle Heihu climbed up in no time. It was so cool!”
“He also told us about their training, where they climb really high platforms with their bare hands!” An’an stood on tiptoe, stretching her arms upward as far as she could, almost losing her balance.
Fortunately, Lu Zetian walked in just then and caught her before she fell.
Hearing her chatter, Lu Zetian lifted her into the air, letting her squeal with laughter as he tossed and caught her repeatedly.
“Again, again!” An’an shouted, giggling uncontrollably.
After playing with her for a while, Lu Zetian looked at Pingping, who was busy drawing. “Do you want to try?”
Pingping shook his head repeatedly. “No, no, I don’t want to!”
Too thrilling for his taste.
Lu Zetian respected his choice and didn’t push him. “Alright, no problem.”
Gu Qinghai, sitting on the sofa reading, noticed Lu Zetian’s gaze shifting to him. His eyes widened slightly, wondering how to refuse, but Lu Zetian simply turned away, sparing him.
Gu Qinghai: “…”
Qin Shi shot a look at Lu Zetian, who realized his behaviour might have been inappropriate. He turned back to Gu Qinghai and explained, “You’re a big kid now. I can’t lift you.”
Gu Qinghai’s face turned red—whether from anger or embarrassment was unclear. “I wouldn’t play this even if you could lift me! It’s so childish!”
With that, he grabbed his book and stomped off to his room.
Lu Zetian shrugged at Qin Shi, who glanced at the closed door and couldn’t help but laugh. “He should be renamed Gu Tsundere.”
“So, can I?” A calmer An’an looked up at Qin Shi and Lu Zetian. “Can my birthday gift be watching the training?”
Lu Zetian said, “Of course.”
“Yay!” An’an jumped up excitedly.
Qin Shi asked, “Do you like that? Do you like martial arts?”
An An nodded enthusiastically. “It’s so cool and amazing.”
After a pause, she looked up and asked, “Can I learn? If I learn, I can protect Pingping.”
If anyone bullied Pingping again, she could fight back herself and wouldn’t need her big brother’s help. Every time her brother got punished with a palm strike, it was because he fought for them. She didn’t want to see him get hit anymore—she wanted to take responsibility herself!
Clenching her small fists, An’an looked at Qin Shi with determination written all over her face.
Lu Zetian raised an eyebrow.
“Alright, you can learn,” Qin Shi said with a smile. “But not just to protect Pingping. I want you to learn so you can protect yourself and not be bullied.”
The world was often harsh toward women, and with An An’s good looks, it would be good for her to know some self-defence.
“Exactly,” Lu Zetian agreed, nodding. “Pingping should train too. Dad will teach you both.”
Lu Zetian had started training Gu Qinghai at a young age, having him run laps around the military compound for years. Last year, he officially began teaching him martial arts, which explained why Gu Qinghai was so formidable in fights, often able to take on multiple opponents at once. Whenever he went out to play, a group of kids always followed him, knowing how strong he was.
An’an cheered, but Pingping sighed—he really didn’t like physical activities.
Noticing Pingping’s sigh, Qin Shi gently encouraged him, “Pingping, exercising will make your body stronger.”
If it weren’t for An’an constantly dragging him outside to play, Pingping probably wouldn’t bother socializing at all. It was a bit concerning.
Pingping nodded. “I understand.”
Qin Shi smiled. While he wasn’t fond of exercise, he was obedient and didn’t outright reject it. That was a relief.
“I was thinking of starting this next year, but I didn’t expect you to ask first,” Lu Zetian said, patting An An’s head before turning to Qin Shi. “I need to step out for a bit.”
Qin Shi knew he was going to deal with the “third aunt” and nodded.
The kids were unfazed by his occasional absences—they were already used to it. Now, hearing him say he was leaving, they simply waved and said, “Bye, Dad,” before returning to their activities.
Watching this, Lu Zetian felt a pang of regret but quickly composed himself. He was now fully aware of how unreliable he had been in the past. Moving forward, he resolved to prioritize his family, no longer letting his life revolve entirely around the military.
No one would control or influence him anymore.
Qin Shi didn’t know or care how Wang Xiuxiu was dealt with. Since Lu Zetian said it was resolved and she wouldn’t come back, Qin Shi put the matter out of her mind.
On the second day of school, Qin Shi had no classes and returned home after completing some administrative tasks.
The third day, she had only two classes—one in the morning and one in the afternoon. It was a perfect schedule: no early mornings and the freedom to leave right after her last class.
Feeling relaxed, Qin Shi walked into the classroom empty-handed.
When the students saw her enter, they stopped whispering. The class monitor called for everyone to stand, and the students chorused, “Good morning, teacher.”
“Good morning to you too. Please, have a seat,” Qin Shi said with a smile, gesturing for them to sit.
As the students settled down and took a closer look at their new teacher, they noticed that she was a young and beautiful woman. This immediately sparked their curiosity.
“For our first meeting, let me introduce myself. I’m your music teacher, Qin Shi.” Picking up a piece of chalk, she wrote her name on the blackboard in neat, elegant handwriting—completely different from the messy scrawls of other teachers.
Her graceful handwriting mirrored her polished appearance. Dressed in a lovely long skirt and sporting a meticulously styled braid, Qin Shi exuded an air of modern sophistication. The girls were captivated by her style, while the boys, less interested, slouched in their seats and started to zone out.
“With National Day just two weeks away, the school will select outstanding classes to perform at the military base,” Qin Shi announced, dropping a bombshell. “Your homeroom teacher, Ms. Zhang Yanli, has asked me to help teach you a song. Would you like to win and represent the school at the base?”
The students’ eyes widened as excitement filled the room. They shouted enthusiastically, “Yes!”
As children from military families, they all wanted to shine at the base. Getting selected would be a huge source of pride!
Even the boys, previously bored, were now roaring with excitement, making the classroom noisy in an instant.
Qin Shi picked up the blackboard eraser and slammed it on the desk, creating a loud bang and a puff of chalk dust. Her expression turned serious. “What’s all the noise? Is this a classroom or a market?”
The sudden sound startled everyone into silence. They blinked at her, not daring to speak.
Students seemed to have a radar for figuring out their teachers’ personalities. They could sense which ones were lenient and which were strict. Although Qin Shi seemed gentle, her firm demeanour made it clear she wasn’t to be trifled with. The students quickly straightened up.
Seeing their compliance, Qin Shi softened her tone and smiled. “No matter the subject, you need to focus. At the very least, maintain proper classroom discipline, alright?”
“We respect each other. You stay quiet and attentive in class, and I’ll teach you seriously.”
“But if you don’t want to listen or learn, just let me know,” she added, sweeping her gaze across the room. “I can hand this class over to another teacher. Your homeroom teacher would love to have extra time with you, and other classes are eager to have me focus on them.”
Her words immediately raised the stakes. The students realized they couldn’t let such a good opportunity slip away to another class. They sat up straight, ready to give their full attention.
Qin Shi smiled inwardly, pleased with the result. Establishing authority during the first lesson was crucial for an easier time later on.
She clapped her hands and announced, “The song I’ll teach you is a new patriotic piece, written by Zhang Li, composed by Qin Yongcheng, and originally sung by Li Guyi. It’s called ‘My Motherland and Me.’”
“I’ll sing it for you first. Then you’ll copy down the lyrics, and we’ll learn it together.”
The students eagerly listened as Qin Shi began singing:
“My motherland and I cannot be separated for even a moment. Wherever I go, there flows a hymn…”
Her melodious voice captivated the students. Some even started humming along quietly by the second verse.
When she finished, the classroom erupted into applause. The students were clearly excited and eager to learn.
Qin Shi thanked them with a smile. “Thank you for the applause. Now, let’s write down the lyrics.”
The students immediately took out their notebooks and pens. After they finished copying, Qin Shi began teaching them to sing, carefully correcting their pronunciation and pitch.
With just four music lessons before National Day, time was tight. Qin Shi focused on teaching the correct techniques, leaving them to practice independently. If they started off wrong, bad habits would be hard to correct later, so she took it slow and steady.
Luckily, the song was catchy, and by the end of the lesson, the students could confidently sing the first verse.
As the bell rang, Qin Shi dismissed them with instructions to practice at home, then left the classroom.
Outside, she bumped into Wu Youming, who was leaving the neighbouring classroom. Their eyes met briefly, but neither greeted the other.
Wu Youming, known for his aloofness, wouldn’t bother acknowledging her, and Qin Shi saw no need to waste her effort.
Annoyed by her indifference, Wu Youming internally criticized her as disrespectful to her seniors. He glanced at her braid, adorned with a blue ribbon, and scoffed.
So frivolous. The country is in a period of development—contributing to the nation should be the priority, not obsessing over appearances. Hmph!
Back in the classroom, the students were still buzzing.
“Why did that class feel so short? Was it really forty minutes?” one student asked.
“Maybe the clock’s wrong,” another joked, but a classmate checked their watch and confirmed the time.
“I think it’s because we were actually focused for once,” the class monitor said, rolling her eyes. “Time flies when you’re engaged in something.”
The students laughed, their faces glowing with joy and excitement.
Author’s Note:
That’s the end of this plot point!
Some readers don’t like the male lead or the kids, but this was intentional. The story combines elements from two books. The female lead is a disruptor—people close to her gradually awaken and break free from the plot, including the children. 😊
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